Handbook - Optometry and Vision Science

There is a more recent version of this academic item available.

Overview

The Master of Optometry program is intended to provide students with advanced knowledge and clinical skills in Optometry and Vision Science. The program is designed to provide a broad range of courses that offer students training in clinical and theoretical aspects of Optometry with opportunities to advance their knowledge in … For more content click the Read More button below. Note: The Master of Optometry program does not include any clinical training and is not appropriate for people wanting to train for registration to practice as an Optometrist in Australia.

The Master of Optometry program is intended to provide students with advanced knowledge and clinical skills in Optometry and Vision Science. The program is designed to provide a broad range of courses that offer students training in clinical and theoretical aspects of Optometry with opportunities to advance their knowledge in a number of fields such as Contact Lenses, Visual Neuroscience, Business Skills, Occupational Optometry, Community Eye Health and Behavioural Optometry. Admission is limited to students with a minimum of a three-year undergraduate degree in Optometry with a credit average. Upon completion graduates will have advanced disciplinary knowledge and skills to meet the demands of the profession.

Note: The Master of Optometry program does not include any clinical training and is not appropriate for people wanting to train for registration to practice as an Optometrist in Australia.

Learning Outcomes

Developed communication, critical thinking, and problem solving skills through an effective and enriched learning environment that is evidenced based.

Developed advanced disciplinary knowledge that is both theoretical and practical in a number of fields in optometry.

Developed knowledge and skills in the use of specialised optometric technologies and methodologies

Gained appropriate training and experience in effective communication to a range of audiences including one-on-one interactions with patients and to a group

Gained a national and global outlook of contemporary issues most relevant to research and the practice of optometry.

Developed skills and knowledge in research methods and evidence based practices to foster life-long learning, critical analysis and independent enquiry.

Graduate Capabilities

For more information on Graduate Capabilities please click on this link

Program Structure
72 Units of Credit:

Students must complete 72 UOC as a standalone program.

The program consists of 72 UOC comprised of:
1. 12-18 UOC of Core Courses
2. 42-60 UOC of Prescribed Electives
3. Up to 18 UOC of non-compulsory Free Electives from any Faculty in the University, subject to the approval of the Program Authority.

Core Courses

Students must take at least 12 UOC, up to a maximum of 18 UOC of the following courses.

Please Note:
- Students electing to take OPTM7208 Research Skills in Optometry (3 UOC), enrol 2 times for a total of 6 UOC.
- Students electing to take OPTM7218 Research Project (4 UOC), enrol 3 times for a total of 12 UOC.

OPTM7302

6 UOC

Evidence Based Optometry

One of the following

Community Eye Health Project

OPTM7208

6 UOC

Research Skills in Optometry

Prescribed Electives

Students must take at least 42 UOC, up to a maximum of 60 UOC of the following courses.

Free Electives

Students may take up to 18 UOC of postgraduate courses from any Faculty in the University subject to the approval of the Program Authority.

Enrolment Disclaimer

Please note that this Handbook is a comprehensive catalogue of our offerings and includes courses that can be taken to satisfy program requirements irrespective as to their availability for a particular year. Availability of courses is best checked using filters on this site or on the class timetable site.

You are responsible for ensuring that you enrol in courses according to your program requirements and by following the advice of your Program Authority. myUNSW enrolment checks that you have met enrolment requirements such as pre-requisites for individual courses but not that you are enrolling in courses that will count towards your program requirements.

Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements

The minimum requirement is the equivalent of a three-year AQF level 7 Bachelor degree in Optometry with a credit average. Students with an average between 60 and 65 will be considered for admission at the discretion of the Postgraduate Coordinator taking into consideration performance in Optometry courses completed in the undergraduate program.

Prospective international students should note that they will need to meet the University's English language requirements.

Applicants with the equivalent of an AQF level 8 Bachelor Honours degree in Optometry may be awarded advanced standing for a maximum of 24 UOC and may complete the degree within one year of full time study (48 UOC). These students will still be required to complete the core course requirements for the program but will take fewer elective courses.

For more information about admission requirements for various UNSW programs, visit the following website(s):

Program Requirements

Progression Requirements

Enrolled students will be allowed to exit the program with a Graduate Certificate (program 7435) or Graduate Diploma in Optometry (program 5665) provided they meet the requirements of these programs.To graduate with a Graduate Certificate students must have completed OPTM7302 and 18 UOC of elective courses (which may include OPTM7108).To graduate with a Graduate Diploma students must have completed OPTM7302 and 30 UOC of elective courses (which may include OPTM7108 or OPTM7308).

For more information on university policy on progression requirements please visit Academic Progression

Recognition of Achievement

Award with Excellence

For more information, please visit:

The Award with Excellence is awarded in coursework masters programs, including Masters (Extension) but with the exception of Masters (Extended) such as JD and MD, when a Weighted Average Mean (WAM) of at least 80% has been achieved and at least 50% of the requirements of the award are completed at UNSW. All eligible programs will award 'with Excellence' except in special circumstances where approval of Academic Board has been given for a program to opt out.

Additional Information

International students can take a maximum of 25% of their courses via distance or online. Therefore, where international students receive advanced standing into the program and are only required to take 48 UOC to complete the degree, they can take a maximum of 12 UOC of courses chosen from OPTM7003, OPTM7001 and OPTM7006.

Program Fees

At UNSW fees are generally charged at course level and therefore dependent upon individual enrolment and other factors such as student's residency status. For generic information on fees and additional expenses of UNSW programs, click on one of the following:

Additional Expenses

Some courses may require students to go on field trips, the cost will be borne by the student.

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Access past handbook editions (2018 and prior)

Faculty
Faculty: The primary academic unit in which related disciplines of teaching and research are conducted.

Campus

Kensington

Study Level
Study Level refers to the academic level of a program, specialisation or course.

Postgraduate

Typical duration:

1.7 years

Delivery Mode
Delivery Mode: The delivery option(s) by which a course or program is offered.

Face-to-face, Fully online, Research

Intake Period

Term 1, Term 3

Academic Calendar

3+ Calendar

Minimum Units of Credit

Award Type

Masters (Coursework)

Award(s)
Award(s): Qualification upon completion (all awards offered by UNSW are accredited by UNSW and align with the Australian Qualifications Framework).

Master of Optometry - MOptom

CRICOS Code

081122G